Progressive Calisthenics

When we got started in fitness, we didn’t have many options. We were just two broke kids from Brooklyn, so we began with what was available to us: push-ups and pull-ups. This was not because we were necessarily “calisthenics guys” but simply because we didn’t have access to any equipment other than a basic doorway pull-up bar and the ground beneath our feet.

During the course of our journey, we would explore other methods of training. Once we were old enough to join a gym, free weights began to dominate our workouts. Though we never stopped doing push-ups and pull-ups, weight training had become the focus. We also experimented with machines, sandbags, medicine balls and everything else we could think of to maximize our strength gains. Additionally, as personal trainers in New York City, we wanted to familiarize ourselves with as many disciplines as possible so that we could provide the best service to all individuals.

Each of these modalities offers its own unique challenges and benefits. However, after years of experience with these different options, we eventually came full circle and returned to training with only our own bodyweight.

Pistol squats replaced barbell squats, L-sits replaced ab machines, handstand push-ups replaced military presses. The transition was so gradual that we hardly saw it coming. Little by little, we were slowly swapping out our favorite weight training exercises for their calisthenics counterparts. It is hard to say whether calisthenics chose us or we chose calisthenics.

Over the years, we have cultivated a following around the world for our unique style of bodyweight training, and we’ve been heralded for our ability to help our clients make maximal gains with minimal equipment.

We’ve written books about training with just a pull-up bar or no equipment at all. In Street Workout we even showed you how to make the world your gym.

In our previous release, Get Strong, we gave you our most stripped-down calisthenics program for building muscle and strength.

Although we have written extensively about bodyweight training, we still haven’t covered it all. Not by a long shot. In fact, within the bodyweight kingdom there are two important pieces of apparatus which we’ve never addressed until now: rings and parallettes. We’re still just getting started!

Why Rings?

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of the pull-up bar. You can do a lot more with a simple straight bar than many people realize. And while many of the exercises in our new book, Next Level Strength, can also be done on a pull-up bar, there are numerous subtleties rendering them quite different on rings:

-Rings require extra core recruitment. Unlike a fixed pull-up bar, rings are free-floating and unstable. They can swing back and forth, rock side to side and even rotate. This forces your body to stabilize itself to a greater degree. As there is always a risk of injury when working with an unstable apparatus, be cautious and take your time.

-Because they are not connected to one another, rings allow you to pass in between them on moves like the skin-the-cat and muscle-up. Whereas you must maneuver around a pull-up bar, rings will not get in your way.

-Training with rings can potentially be more forgiving on your joints, particularly those of the wrists, shoulders and elbows. By allowing your hands to rotate, your joints may move in a more personalized range of motion.

-Though some exercises are more challenging when performed on rings, others are more accessible. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword. Regardless, if you are used to training exclusively with a bar, those first few weeks of ring training may surprise you.

Why Parallettes?

Parallel bars that are low to the ground are known as parallettes. Though they might not appear to offer anything special at first glance, these little, low bars are an amazing tool. Here’s why:

-Wrist pain is one of the most common issues associated with floor exercises like planks, L-sits and handstands. Since parallettes allow your wrists to maintain a neutral position during these and other exercises, they offer a great way to work around (and possibly help eradicate) any issues that may plague your wrists.

-Squeezing parallettes while practicing these exercises creates more tension in your upper-body, which can facilitate a greater mind-muscle connection. This will help incur greater strength gains, especially with regard to your grip, core and shoulders.

-Elevating your hands with parallettes makes many exercises more accessible than when they’re performed on the ground. Oftentimes, beginners lack flexibility and/or core strength. Having extra clearance beneath your body can make just enough of a difference to help you nail your first L-sit or tuck planche.

-You can adjust the width of your parallettes to suit your individual proportions, which you cannot do with affixed bars.

The Next Level Strength Program

The Next Level Strength program offers something for everyone. The workouts in our new book build strength, flexibility, control and body awareness. There is also a unique skill element to many of these exercises. To be clear, however, Next Level Strength is not gymnastics. Though some of the exercises may look like gymnastics movements, we are not competing with anyone but ourselves.

“It takes 4 weeks to get used to anything,” said Dino Antinori, who I used to run with in the early 1990’s. “It’s true for exercise, work, or even living with another person.” He was 20 years older than me. We ran together regularly and he was full of practical advice on fitness, strength and life in general. As I’ve worked through the last two decades, I’ve seen it proved many times. “The first week is hard, and the second week is harder. By the third week it starts to get easier and by week four you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about.”

The exact thing I was doing at the time that needed this four weeks of dedication was increasing my stamina to run a faster ten mile race. Dino had kindly taken me out for a “ten mile plus” run which ended up being fourteen with some very tough hills included. The following week he made it eighteen. I was very sore the following days, cycling to work and laboring on construction sites. As promised, week three was easier and by week four I was a different runner. Dino ran every day, mostly on his own whatever the weather. I aspired to be as dedicated, but it took a number of years.

Wrestler Arn Anderson was interviewed with Ric Flair about training in their day and he reminisced about daily wrestling and training – aches and pains were “like a callous on the hand,” he said. It all rang true with what Dino had said.

Getting fit or strong for the first time is tough. It’s a step into the unknown. Lots of aches and pains add to the doubts. The ambition seems too far away, and impatience is usual. The wish to be faster, fitter, stronger and better conditioned never goes away. Between achievement of the ambition and the now of identifying it exists a lot of work.

It was 2004. I had a leg injury and it was hurting me a lot. Relief came from swimming outdoors in the cold so I did more of it, associating relief with being cold. Consequently I became very good at swimming in cold conditions. On land, I sometimes had a limp. Physical work was not always enjoyable and on this particular day, the sun was beating down and my task was to break up a giant concrete slab with a sledgehammer. A pneumatic jack hammer would have been easier and quicker with less pain for my leg. However, the homeowner did not wish to inflict such noise on his neighbors and hired me to break it up. I was struggling financially so turned up with sledgehammer accordingly.

Every hit sent pain through my leg. It took three hits to make a crack in the concrete. Sweat poured into my eyes and I felt alternately grumpy and elated. Grumpy because I was hurting. Elated because I had not let it stop me. I daydreamed–the secret pleasure of every manual worker–and ran through scenarios. My friend John Rickhuss had died a short while before. He’d been training to swim the English Channel. Two years earlier, we’d both swam the length of Windermere, 10.5 miles. It had taken me seven hours and twenty nine minutes. I was glad to stop. John, much older than me and faster congratulated me at the finish: “That’s your six hour swim done, Dan,” he said cheerfully. “It’s the Channel next for you.” The thought of doubling that effort seemed impossible. For him though, it wasn’t. He built on that swim for the next few years gradually.

I went to Loch Ness and repeated the 10 miles more comfortably, swam Ullswater (7 miles) the following year and shortly after had some personal misfortune which meant at the time of hammering the slab I was living in a one room bedsit, struggling to pay the rent. John was gone, but his words lingered. Had he been humoring me? Or did he see something in me that I didn’t? I thought of Dino who had also made predictions that came true. I swung the hammer again and another jolt went up the leg. “Swimming the Channel can’t possibly be worse than this,” I said out loud to no-one in particular. The future me, the me of now smiles again remembering this and I return again to encourage the younger. “Stick at it. Things will improve. You’ll find a way to overcome the injury and bridge the gap between there and here.”

I finished the slab. Gradually I worked my way to better personal circumstances. Hard decisions had to be made and I took a lot of wrong turns, worked a lot of dead ends. I swam outdoors, trained in the woods with some pull ups, dips and lifted logs. I cycled, ran, rowed, paddled and swam, worked manual labor on farms and construction/maintenance and dreamed what it would be like to swim to France. I returned to the slab often. It became my symbol of overcoming difficulty.

Eventually I did swim the Channel. Before I did it I wondered if I could. Now I wonder how I did. It never looks smaller or less of a challenge. During the swim I had plenty time to daydream, remember and plan. I remembered the slab a number of times, each time comparing the experience. “Is this harder than the slab?” “No.” Towards the end, when my head was hurting, my shoulder grinding and my stomach nauseous, I reflected with a smile that “at least it’s not as bad as breaking up that slab.” I returned to my younger self. “Keep it up, Dan, you’ll end up here, in the Channel–doing it.”

This winter has bought new challenges and opportunities along with fresh ambitions. On good days, I find I am pulling high in my pull-ups and the assisted pistols are improving. The injuries of the summer that seemed so serious are now memories. I smile and return to those days of doubt with a smile. In recent difficult days – well, I grind through the daily minimum and take extra warm up sets because I know that some enthusiasm will surely follow. Everything that has gone before has led me to here. “These struggles will soon be fond memories,” I hear a voice say, and I smile once more as I return to the slab and tell the sweating youth the good news.

***

Dan Earthquake is involved in event safety and hosts winter swimming training camps for Channel Swimmers. In 2013 the Channel Swimming Association awarded him the trophy for “Greatest Feat of Endurance” for his 21hr 25 minute crossing of the English Channel. In August 2018 Dan was part of the 4 person relay team that set a new record for the Enduroman Arch to Arc triathlon between London and Paris. For more info, visit http://www.danearthquake.com/

Those of you who have been following this blog for the last six years know how serious we are about calisthenics. If you’ve spent any length of time at all on these hallowed pages, then you’ve heard about the amazing purity of owning a body that is truly “self-made.” We speak of minimalism in equipment, clarity of mind, strength in simplicity. And ripped abs.

You’ve also read the incredible stories that surround every single Progressive Calisthenics Certification: the friendships formed, the fantastic networking opportunities, and the timeless bonds created between calisthenics freaks and geeks from all over the world. At PCC, we encourage an experiential learning environment, where everyone is involved in every step of the process—you can almost feel yourself getting stronger!

Here on this blog, we’ve waxed philosophical about the numerous PR’s, feats of strength and profound life experiences shared PCC weekend, but what we rarely talk about is this: the wacky antics that ensue!

Rock n roll dreams come true at this post-PCC tattoo convention!

That’s right. When the Century Test is over and the Certifications have been handed out, after the love, the hugs and the high fives, we all like to have a little fun. Perhaps, punch-drunk on adrenaline, we stick around to hang out with everyone who wants to spend time with us on that final day of PCC.

And believe it or not, there are always some folks who want to get back on the bar for a few last reps. Sometimes it’s a free-style pull-up jam!

Representing the strong women of PCC!

If you’ve ever wanted to dragon flag off Danny, stand on Al’s bridge, try a crazy move or take a crazy photo, then now you know: it all happens after hours at PCC!

As 2018 winds down to a close and we reflect back at the places we went and the people we met, we can’t help but to feel like the luckiest guys in the world. It’s a privilege that we get to spread the word of progressive calisthenics. It’s an honor to train with each of you. The PCC community includes us all.

This past year was host to Progressive Calisthenics Certifications in Beijing, Shanghai, London, New York City, Amsterdam and Austin. Each one was unforgettable.

And 2019 is looking just as bright! With PCCs already scheduled stateside in Colorado and Georgia, and overseas in Vienna, England, and Taiwan, next year promises to be even more over-the-top than ever!

In the PCC Universe, we are all more than simply calisthenics instructors and practitioners: we are family. If you’ve ever considered attending a PCC, this is the time. We wanna see your pull-ups! Hey hey hey! Keep the dream alive!

Progressing in your calisthenics quest doesn’t always mean that you master the next big movement or duplicate a zany stunt. Another way of scaling the difficulty of just about any particular exercise is to simply employ time. No, I don’t mean making your workouts longer—in fact this method could make your workouts shorter—what I am referring to is time under tension.

The phrase “time under tension” refers to how long a muscle (or group of muscles) is under stress for a given rep or set. This can be achieved by lengthening the concentric, eccentric or pausing phase of an exercise.

I used this technique back in my weight lifting days. In fact, most methods of progressive resistance in calisthenics can apply to the weight room as well. When I was focused on lifting (and training people to do the same), there were times I would use less weight, instead choosing to focus on a slow tempo. Oftentimes, my clients would question my method, as they were only thinking in terms of lifting as much weight as possible. But to their surprise, when I had them do a 3 second eccentric and concentric (3 seconds down and 3 seconds up) movement for each rep, they would burn out sooner and get more out of the exercise—even at less external resistance.

Of course, you are also not limited to a 3 second tempo, you can also slow it down more so, such as a 5 second tempo. You could even add pause at the bottom of your movement. All of these are effective ways of increasing your muscles’ time under tension.

The concept of time under tension is arguably even more important when applied to bodyweight training. Because of our minimalist approach (and equipment set-ups), we are constantly using methods of increasing resistance without adding external weight. In fact, calisthenics newbies often wonder how it’s done. Well, again, time under tension is one of the least complicated ways!

Slowing an exercise down—or pausing at the bottom—are both ways to employ time over tension. This is one of the least complicated methods of progressing an exercise without adding external resistance.

In fact, for me personally, when I put the weights away and became completely calisthenics focused, I was able to achieve very high rep counts in my basic 3 exercises: push-ups, pull-ups and squats. For a while, I thought progressions were the only way to go from there, so that is what I did.

Eventually, my numbers started to pick up again. So I thought back and remembered the slow tempo workouts I use to do. I decided to give it a shot and they were more challenging than I expected. You see, not only does the slow tempo maintain the tension on the muscles for longer, it also requires you to be more attentive to form, thus giving a greater yield from every single repetition.

It’s true that elevating your feet or using your knuckles are ways of progressing the push-up, but did you know that simply slowing it down is a progression in it’s own right?

Feel free to experiment. I’ve found that pausing at various points throughout the range of motion (as opposed to just the top or bottom position) can help overcome sticking points. Think about a pull-up, for example, where you pause for 2 seconds at the top, then again with your elbows at 90 degrees, then 120 degrees, with a final pause at the dead hang—ouch!) Furthermore, you can even experiment with super-slow reps, such a “the one minute push-up” which is 30 seconds on the way up and 30 seconds on the way down! Just make sure to take your time on the eccentric phase for max results!

Remember, fitness isn’t just being able to knock out 100 push-ups, or bench press double bodyweight: it is more about embracing the process, living in the present, and ranking quality over quantity when it comes to movements. Take it slow, build real strength, and focus on your form: you will see quality changes!

***

Ray Shonk, PCC is a personal trainer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an adjunct professor at GVSU and the owner of Quest Fitness. In 2017, he authored his first book, appropriately titled, The Calisthenics Quest. Ray specializes in Calisthenics, Sports Performance and Martial Arts training. When he is not training, Ray spends time brewing beer, and enjoying time with friends and family. Learn more at www.questfitnessgym.com

The Progressive Calisthenics Certification is a unique life experience. This two day event allows exercise enthusiasts to gather, train and get certified as progressive calisthenics instructors by none other than the Kavadlo brothers, the world famous trainers and pioneers of the Street Workout movement!

The decision to attend PCC this past October in Amsterdam, NE was a definitive moment of crucial importance in my life. My expectations were very high. I am a dedicated teacher and student of calisthenics and both Al and Danny are role models for me. I’ve been reading their articles and watching their videos for years.

Day One

The dawn breaks outside and I’m one of the first attendees to arrive. I see some familiar figures in the back of the training hall and, sure enough, based on a big beard and lots of tattoos, I recognize the Kavadlo brothers. A thought slips into my mind: I know how they present themselves on social media, but what are they going to be like in reality?

I barely manage to learn the names of other participants, when Danny comes to us with a big smile and shakes everyone’s hand. Al joins us few minutes later, sits among us and we begin talking about the flight, about life and about how this is the first time he left his newborn daughter for this long. It feels like I’m talking with an old friend, not with someone I just met. But there’s no more time to talk – it’s 8:30 and PCC is about to officially begin!

Danny is the one to make the welcome speech and claims that when people arrive at PCC they are strangers, but when they leave, they are a family. Even though my expectations of this weekend are high, I remain skeptical.

We get started on push-ups, pull-ups, muscle-ups, bar levers and more! All of these modules start with beginner-oriented exercises and progress to more difficult ones, like one arm push-ups or muscle-ups.

As we practice the moves, it is interesting to notice, that no one is best in everything. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses – and that is how it’s supposed to be! I helped explain a one arm push-up negative to Ben, my training partner, but it was Ben who left ME speechless, when he did a perfect one arm pull-up, a move, that is far beyond my grasp at this point!

We experienced many beautiful moments when we arrived at the muscle-up module. Muscle-ups, while requiring a fair amount of strength to perform, are also a skill, and there is no better way to learn a new skill than to have it explained in person and try it for yourself. Everyone gets super excited. It’s clearly a room full of bar maniacs!

Motivated by the mood in the room and the successes of others, everyone gives their best to the muscle-ups. Our energy appears to have no limits. Once the first person gets their first muscle up, a chain reaction is ignited. By the end of muscle-up session, five people get their first rep. If I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, I probably wouldn’t believe it.

When it’s our turn to try the human flags, we give it everything, just like when we did muscle-ups. Personal records are achieved on many flag variations. Once we are all done with the flags, it was time to cool down. Later that afternoon, Master Al shined, as he taught us more about the principles of progression, and his story of fitness and life. It was inspiring to hear his own story of going from a “towel boy” to becoming a world class calisthenics icon.

Day Two

We were all a little bit nervous on the morning of Day Two. Was it really such a wise idea to exhaust ourselves so much yesterday? After all, the Century Test remained. But once we start moving, these thoughts just vanish. We go through leg exercises and we learn, among other things, that clutching your palms like a pistol while doing a pistol squat doesn’t only look good, there is a practical benefit to it as well!

Somewhat wiser, we move on to back bridges. During the “free jam” ten minutes, that follow the back bridge module, I am honored to follow PCC instructor Robbie Taylor and show others a stand-to-stand back bridge. The applause makes me feel like a superstar for a minute. I was also able to test how strong my back is during the back bridge module.

There is a short break and I think to myself: okay, squats and back bridges! Perfect! This should keep our arms fresh for the century test! Wrong. We then move on to handstands and floor holds, and our upper bodies are back to work!

As the morning’s training winds down, Danny leads us on a seminar of programming in the gym and putting the pieces that we have learned together. True to form, he also shares some hard-won wisdom and life lessons. We settle into the moment, but we all know what awaits…

PCC Century Test

The test is called “Century.” It requires 100 repetitions of 40 squats, 30 push-ups, 20 hanging knee raises and 10 pull-ups in perfect form and under eight minutes. These demands are not excessive for anyone with a solid foundation in calisthenics, but the tricky part is to do all it after two days of grueling training with sore muscles, not to mention the psychological pressure. Everyone has only one shot at passing the century test on location.

Two participants test at the same time: one is supervised by Al and the other by Danny. The others wait, cheer and congratulate. After eight rounds, I am in the last pair to test. By that time my nerves are almost killing me. Wearing a semi-sinister grin on his face, Danny tells me that this is what he has been looking forward to all weekend. I choose not to inquire at this moment – I hear the gong and I start.

My nerves calm down completely as I begin testing. I feel like a fish that has just been thrown back into water. I realize that this is what I do, this is what I live for and this is where I have broken, overcome and raised my limits countless times. Calisthenics is my passion and the blood in my veins pumps for it! I keep my reps slow and enjoy every single one of them. I finish my tenth pull up, even add an eleventh and shout Danny’s trademark “HELLYEAH!” Others gather around, congratulate me and I can hear from many people that my knee raises were really nice to watch: top form, zero swing, slow and in controlled fashion.

Danny is genuine pleased and says, “Thanks Vít, you just made my day!” It is a perfect ending to a perfect weekend.

In the end, three people did not pass the test. One attendee even managed to do 99 perfect repetitions, but failed to finish his tenth pull up. It was heart breaking. But none of the people who failed let that fact affect the mood in the room. PCC is more about the experience than the certificate. (Plus, they still have 90 days to submit a passing video.) It was now time to celebrate, ask questions, practice the movement we learnt, and of course pose for some crazy pictures!

The End

At the end, I hug both brothers and I thank them for all the articles they’ve written and published, and how much they’ve helped me on my calisthenics and personal trainer journey. I can honestly say that they are the same awesome people in reality, as they are in media, and that it is so refreshing to experience such integrity, because it is so rare these days.

But did we arrive as strangers and leave as family? Yes, I truly believe that we did. But this doesn’t mean that we will all necessarily stay in touch or write every day. Quite the opposite: I may never see most of the people that I met that weekend again. But, the truth is that we were already a family; we just didn’t know it yet.

Everyone who is a longtime teacher and/or student of calisthenics has the same passionate soul, that steam engine that drives us to go on. It’s created by the never-ending hunger to break our own limits and help others do the same. This everlasting desire to improve ourselves, inspire others and let others inspire us is what united us all along. This is who we are and what connects us all.

For many years, I have wanted to attend the Progressive Calisthenics Certification, and it was a thrill to finally get to do it last month in Austin, TX. After all of the anticipation, I knew it would be an unforgettable weekend. The best part was that I was able to take my husband along with me. After all, we’re a couple of calisthenics freaks, and it was our 17th anniversary. This was the best way to celebrate!

But enough about him… he already got a little taste of the limelight in a previous blog. And while I’d love to talk about ALL of the amazing people I met there, I’m going to take a different approach: This is for all my strong girls! (It’s okay men. You can keep reading too.)

Throughout my 15-year tenure as a trainer, I have taken part in a great number of fitness related workshops. Over the years, I’ve noticed an interesting pattern. The “tougher”, for lack of a better word, the workshop is perceived to be, the fewer women are in attendance. Allow me to elaborate:

Several years ago, at my first RKC, there were approximately the same number of women and men in attendance. I was happy to see the ladies well represented! However, that was not the case at my RKC Level II, where I was very much in the minority. There were only three women (including myself) in the group. Rather intimidating! Nonetheless, we kicked ass right alongside the men. Since that RKC Level II workshop, I have recertified, and/or assisted at, several Dragon Door workshops. Sadly, this trend of fewer and fewer women in attendance has remained the same.

In fact, when I arrived at PCC, it appeared that I was the only female in a room full of 20 super strong men! Though I wasn’t completely surprised by this, I must confess that I was relieved when another female walked through the door.

This particular female, Mrs. Julia Harris, is 14 years younger than me, and a former gymnast. But I didn’t let that intimidate me either. I was stoked to have another woman there to share the experience with! Over the course of the weekend, Julia and I shared lots of laughs, high fives, and PR’s. We encouraged each other every time we performed on the bar, pole or mat.

Here are some of the take-aways from that weekend that I want all women considering PCC to know:

– Both Julia and I were already well rehearsed in squats, push-ups and pull-ups. So ladies, I highly recommend that you show up with a solid foundation in the basics. Those three movements, believe it or not, are the baseline from which almost all the more advanced moves are built. Even if you cannot do a full pull-up (many women can’t… yet), I still encourage you to practice Aussie pull-ups, bar hangs, and other upper body pulling motions. There is no need to be nervous, regardless of what your fitness level is—PCC is for everybody! Be prepared and work on your version of “squat-push-pull” and you won’t find yourself struggling.

– Amazingly, we both worked on “skinning the cat”, bar levers, floor holds and more! I might not be able to do a full bar muscle-up yet, but with the guidance of The World-Famous Kavadlo Brothers and the other amazing instructors, were able to attempt each and every movement on the schedule. We females were given the tools to either succeed in those movements that very day, or to take with us so that we can approach and conquer them in our own time.

That’s the point I’d really like to drive home: The level of instruction you will receive will enable and encourage you to do things you may not have expected. You may just surprise yourself!

– The PCC is an incredibly diverse curriculum. In a way, calisthenics is a great equalizer. Even if you reach a sticking point in one area, you will find that there is room to excel in others. In fact, in my unbiased opinion, the ladies ruled the squat and handstand portion of the weekend. Move over boys!

But this is the most important thing I observed during PCC. Pay close attention ladies….

– Throughout the weekend, Julia and I went shoulder to shoulder with the men. We attempted every exercise. Sometimes we failed. Sometimes we succeeded. And guess what? The men in the room alsofailed and succeeded right alongside us.

That’s right! No one got every technique. Additionally, all of the men cheered us on the entire time. I never felt that I wasn’t a part of the group, nor for one moment did it feel like I was in a “man’s world”. I honestly can’t put into words the camaraderie that I experienced. It has never been men vs. women. It is always athlete supporting athlete.

At the conclusion of this amazing weekend, after the PCC Century tests, the hugs, tears and high fives, I was approached by several of the male participants. They wanted to tell me that I “inspired” THEM! Go figure!

Many of the men wanted my husband’s and my info so they could stay in touch with us and visit our gym. Some also had training questions they wanted to follow up with me on—they were impressed with me as a trainer. Zero egos. Lots friendships were made that weekend that will not be forgotten. Words alone cannot do justice to bonds formed at a PCC certification. The weekend made such a great impression on me personally that I will be hosting a Progressive Calisthenics Certification at my gym, KA Athletics, in Rome, Georgia.

So, to all my girls out there, don’t let PCC intimidate you. Or any event for that matter! We are fully capable of standing side by side with the boys, and we should do so with our heads held high. Why?? Because strong people inspire each other, regardless of gender!

That’s right, ladies… we can swing from those bars too! We are strong. We are PCC!

When I first got into calisthenics as a teenager, I was able to manage a couple underhand chin-ups, but I could not do a single overhand pull-up with a full range of motion.

So what did I do?

Well, I started by doing what I could, which meant lots of chin-ups. Even though I could only do a few at a time, I would just do as many as I could, then rest and repeat. I did this every other day for months. Then one day I tried an overhand pull-up again and I could do it!

Soon after this, I encountered a pair of wide grip pull-up handles at a local gym and I was back to not being able to do a single rep. So I kept doing them on my doorway pull-up bar with the narrower grip.

Again, I just did as many as I could, then I’d rest and repeat the process several times. Since I was a teenager, I had a lot of testosterone and was able to recover pretty quickly. I did this every other day for a while and eventually I was able to do 10 in a row. Then I went back to that wide grip set-up and was suddenly able to do a few reps!

Over the course of the next several years, I continued to discover challenging new pull-up variations: Commando pull-ups, L-sit pull-ups, archer pull-ups and of course, the muscle-up. They all gave me a major humbling when I first encountered them, yet they were all ultimately achievable with consistent effort.

I’m far from being a teenager these days, and I don’t recover quite as quickly as I used to, but I still apply the same principles to all of my workouts.

The key to conquering any physical goal, whether it’s to do 10 wide-grip pull-ups, perform a human flag, or run a marathon, is the same regardless of the task. All you have to do is find a regressed version of your goal (a less difficult progression, fewer reps, shorter distance, etc.) and practice that consistently for several weeks or months. Once it gets easier, you slowly start inching your way toward the goal.

So, what if you can’t even do a chin-up yet? Then start by just hanging from the bar!

From there, you can eventually build toward flexed arm hangs and negative chin-ups. (A flexed arm hang is when you hold the top position of the chin-up; a negative chin-up involves slowly lowering yourself down from that position.) If you’re patient, consistent and dedicated, the results will come. Guaranteed.

I did not get good at pull-ups overnight. It took many years and countless reps, and I experienced numerous setbacks along the way.

There wasn’t any magic pill or secret formula, so I just focused on my training and did the work. I still do.

The last time that my brother Al Kavadlo and I rolled into Texas was back in 2015. It was also the last time the Lone Star State had hosted a Progressive Calisthenics Certification. It had been too long…

And speaking of “worldwide”, in addition to the many PCC certifications throughout these great States, we’ve also had the privilege of instructing numerous workshops in Europe, Asia and even Australia. Between then and now, the PCC family has gotten even bigger!

In fact, last week in Austin was very much indeed a family affair… literally!

The father/daughter team of Mark Walker and Julia Harris proved their mettle as they re-certified and certified, respectively. They cheered each other on all weekend and ultimately smashed the Century! Also in attendance was calisthenics-couple Joe and Kristy Agan, who celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary by attending PCC! Happy Anniversary guys—Joe’s first flag (pictured above) is our gift to you!

The father/daughter team of Mark Walker and Julia Harris.

There were multiple PR’s over the course of this two-day event. It was truly an amazing thing to behold. The calisthenics killers of Capital City popped pistols, pressed push-ups and muscled-up high. There was even a first time stand-to-stand bridge in the group. There is something about the exquisite energy of a motivated and passionate team that cannot be replicated. It must be felt firsthand.

At the end of the day, what really made this PCC special was the experience: That feeling of being surrounded by like-minded individuals—us “freaks and geeks” of fitness—training, learning and living life together. That’s where the bonds grow; it’s the magic of calisthenics and community.

There are three more Progressive Calisthenics Certifications scheduled for 2018 in three spectacular cities: New York, Amsterdam and Shanghai. I hope to see you there! If Austin is an indicator, then you don’t want to miss these. HELLYEAH!

I love calisthenics! Give me an outdoor pull-up bar and a clear, blue sky over a crowded, stuffy gym any day. To me, there’s nothing better than getting strong and fit in the simplest, purest way I can, and I believe that bodyweight training is the most efficient and effective way to do so.

It seems like many people agree. In fact, bodyweight exercise has gotten a lot of attention lately. But, what exactly is “calisthenics”?

There are many definitions out there, but I choose to define it as a system of training that relies solely on the weight of one’s own body and the interaction with the world around them. This is inclusive not only of squats, pull-ups, and push-ups, but also running, jumping, punching, crawling and climbing. Through this system, strength, endurance, mass and mobility can all be properly achieved. Not to mention mental attitude…

It isn’t just about having big muscles (although that is nice!) I believe that to reach true calisthenics potential, one should strive for more. Specifically, we should strive for the ability to move freely and unencumbered. While there is no doubt that being strong and lean is important, it’s also important to be mobile and able-bodied. In other words, calisthenics exercises are tools to help you get stronger and fitter in the real world, not just the gym. That is the true value!

In my opinion, a true student of calisthenics needs to have exposure to all pillars of the system. In addition to putting in the sets and reps, it’s helpful for overall strength and wellness to develop real world skills and coordination from activities such as hiking, swimming, throwing and sprinting. Working in scenarios where all the muscles are employed together while navigate toward a goal is the epitome of the calisthenics movement.

Does this mean that push-ups, pull-ups, and squats are a waste of time? Absolutely not! They are the true foundations of physical strength, as well as some of our best tools for building range-of-motion, endurance, and coordination. Not only do these exercises possess a wealth of value in their own right, but they serve as a means to an end. Allow me to elaborate:

Squats can build your legs to hike a mountain; push-ups can build your strength for punching harder than your opponent; the strength gains you get from pull-ups can be applied to rock climbing. These exercise tools have a wide range of applications and are adaptable toward a vast multitude of goals.

What if you what if you don’t want to take part in any of those activities and just want to be big and strong? Well, that’s fine, too! Big biceps, tree trunk legs, and bat wing lats are all excellent things to have–and are objective proof that you care about your body’s health and function. All goals are good goals!

How far you want to push your body? We have no choice but wonder what we’re capable of when we truly unlock our potential by building the strength to take on the world! Let your imagination run wild…

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Marc Ayala, PCC, is a personal trainer located in Boston. With a love for reading and research, he is constantly on the quest for more knowledge and sharper skills. Marc is passionate about uncovering the physical potential in his clients, pushing them to levels of strength that they never thought possible.

I’ve always had a vivid imagination. I’ve heard that anorexics always see themselves as fat, but I saw the opposite with my physique. Like Michelangelo saw the sculpture of David he would release from a block of stone, I saw my muscles and strength beneath. I only think I look fat in old photos. For instance, I was “as fat as a fool” when I swam the English Channel. But, that kept me warm, helped me float, and fed my muscles.

I was very happy with my long term physique for long distance swimming and strength. I saw myself as a small sumo wrestler with a considerable amount of muscle mass covered with a protective layer of fat. It worked very well for the things I wanted to achieve. I’ve swam over a mile (2000m) in 1.9° Celcius (34° F) and three miles at 40°F. Not to mention, six hour swims every two weeks or so for a year with plenty of physical work—cycling in high gears, carrying the bike whilst jogging and rowing a boat were part of my program. I felt strong and healthy for the most part and rarely cold.

Now in my 40s, it’s wiser to be lighter. The trophies of the heavy work remind me that the daily minimum is the way to go and the desire to lift heavy weights and cover very long distances has waned along with my mass. I now feel the cold more.

I celebrate improvisation: I participated in the UK Strongest Man heats by training in my garden with scrap metal and old tires and tree trunks. Recently I ran my portions of a relay triathlon between London and Paris wearing normal clothes and my usual Dr. Marten boots. I used a steel bicycle made in 1963 for the cycle stage. “Did you find that at the roadside or in a museum?” joked a team mate. In the poem “If,” Rudyard Kipling challenged the individual to see their work destroyed and to rebuild again “with worn out tools.” I realise that I’m railing against convention. To me, the veneer of professionalism which demands branding and uniformity ignores the individual art of survival and practicality. Improvisation is not fashionable, a bit like calisthenics in some quarters. The poster boys and girls of conventional fashion wear makeup, have suntans, clean clothes, and operate in perfect conditions which do not exist in reality.

At the Louvre in Paris the other week, I photographed a bearded statue with a big arm. “That’s me,” I declared to myself, that perfection visible to me beneath an imperfect form. “It’s what you are becoming,” said a voice from the future. I didn’t realize until relatively recently (the last decade or so) that I am a time traveler. I’ve often imagined my future self returning to give advice. Sometimes the advice felt unhelpful, but I took comfort that the future me cared enough to try and help. Sometimes sneering at the elder know-it-all version of myself, I resolved to do it my way. “Stick to the basics,” he said, but I clamored for the cheer of the crowd, the wow of friends and colleagues. Vanity lifting and trophy hunting were (and are) very seductive.

“Calisthenics is both the fountain of youth and the quick route to old age,” my future self advised. “I’m curious about it being the quick route to old age,” I commented. “Time flies when you have fun,” he replied, “Especially given your habit of doing things unconventionally. Don’t worry,” he regularly assures me at opportune moments: “Everything will turn out fine, but the work has to be done.”

I remember these inner conversations and revisit my younger self to reiterate the message. Sometimes I didn’t listen—I remember that too. There’s still more to do, always more to do. Each day is a new start, a bit more revealed from the block.

Winston Churchill had the right idea: “Live dangerously, take things as they come. Dread naught: all will be well.”

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Dan Earthquake is involved in event safety and hosts winter swimming training camps for Channel Swimmers. In 2013 the Channel Swimming Association awarded him the trophy for “Greatest Feat of Endurance” for his 21hr 25 minute crossing of the English Channel. In August 2018 Dan was part of the 4 person relay team that set a new record for the Enduroman Arch to Arc triathlon between London and Paris. For more info, visit www.eqnrg.info

Dragon Door Publications / The author(s) and publisher of this material are not responsible in any manner whatsoever for any injury that may occur through following the instructions or opinions contained in this material. The activities, physical and otherwise, described herein for informational purposes only, may be too strenuous or dangerous for some people, and the reader(s) should consult a physician before engaging in them.